'Don't move carnival route'

The majority of black Londoners are against plans by Ken Livingstone to change the route of the Notting Hill Carnival, according to new research. Almost three quarters questioned wanted the carnival to remain within Notting Hill.

A review group set up by the Mayor is looking into scrapping the existing circular route for safety reasons. He is said to favour a linear route which would end in Hyde Park. The Greater London Authority today stressed its plans did not include moving the heart of the carnival away from Notting Hill and said the research was "confusing".

The report, Keeping it Real - What do black Londoners really feel about the Notting Hill Carnival?, found 72 per cent wanted the event to stay within the neighbourhood.

A spokeswoman for carnival sponsor Western Union, which commissioned the research, said: "It shows a significant proportion of black Londoners are united in protest against the proposed changes to the historical route. There was a strong feeling the carnival should not move but instead there should be measures to improve safety, like widening the route.

"The carnival started in the community, bringing a bit of celebration into peoples' lives, and to put it somewhere else is moving too much towards the commercial aspect."

But a GLA spokesman said: "There are no plans to move the carnival away from Notting Hill and that's a fact. The review process has canvassed hundreds of people and this has resulted in consensus that is is necessary, to increase safety and therefore protect the long term future of the carnival, for there to be a non-circular route."

The Hyde Park proposal has angered some prominent residents, Westminster council and Kensington and Chelsea council, and the Royal Parks Agency. The Mayor responded by calling opponents wealthy "toffs". Three other proposed routes are also being examined.

The report also showed black people felt strongly about preserving the Afro-Caribbean traditions of the carnival. Of those questioned 57 per cent said it was still a true representation of Caribbean culture.

Most respondents said the 7pm curfew had a negative effect on public safety, with two million people trying to go home at the same time.

The survey questioned 814 people from 17 boroughs.